I am not my own...

"...you are not your own, you have been bought for a price; So glorify God with your body."

1 Cor 6:19-20

God spoke this verse clearly to my heart this morning. WoW, I lived so long trying to glorify my own selfish self. The last thing I ever wanted to be was selfish, but this morning the Lord made me realize that a good portion of the past 42 years has been spent pursing what I wanted: perfection, popularity, outer beauty, obtaining more money and materials, being the perfect wife and mother, and on and on. I haven't really lived at all now that I think about it. The stress I placed on myself is downright outrageous. As much as I know I love the Lord I sure have had a funny way of showing it - heck, I've been so consumed living to please myself, how could I ever have any time to really live for the living God?

The freedom that is opening up within me is showing me so much about myself. It makes me smile to know that I am stepping into the true meaning of God's life for me. I'm not a bit ashamed of my past, and I am blessed that I have the Lord to show me how my way just isn't worth it.  Bringing peace, joy, love, hope, encouragement and inspiration to others is the way to go: the way to God.

If your realizing that life seems to be more complicated by your own personal rules and regulations, then join me in letting it all go.  Be joyful knowing that God is in control, He knows the foods that will nourish us, the rest we need to pursue His will, and the amount of exercise our bodies can take to stay alert and energetic for His call. So, let's start listening to Him as He directs our steps, our actions, they will get easier and easier everyday. Then, one day we can all look back and be thankful for the lessons learned, but relieved to know that without His guidance and insight we would still be living in a dark hole of self-bondage.

Freedom is the way and God is that FREEDOM.

"...but we also GLORY in our sufferings..."! It is time to celebrate our personal struggles...

"...but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope..."

The Story, (p. 435)

This morning I woke up with so much thankfulness in my heart for the wonderful family time yesterday.  What a blessing to have all of us together.  Looking at photos from the day made me realize how much I have to be joyful, and thankful for.  As I read my book and enjoyed my alone time with the Lord, this verse stood out so strongly.  Then, I re-read a few paragraphs, and the verse a few paragraphs below the one above read:

 "I believe that our present sufferings [fears, phobias, self/body image disorders, etc.,] are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (p.435).

Those of us that have been suffering for endless years with whatever struggle(s) consumes us, can be joyful for the struggle(s); embrace them and let them shine!  God's glory shines brighter and brighter in those that feel like they're in endless struggle, but never give up.  Oh how freeing this is.  I am joyful, thankful, and glad that I have (an am) going through these internal, sometimes almost debilitating, self/body-struggle. It means that I have more and more holes for God to shine through for ALL the world to see.

Embrace your hurts and pains.  Let's all glorify God together and let our weaknesses and struggles shine through!!  God will glorify us in His time, so let's live NOW and show satan that he has no more control over us.

Love to all--God bless and enjoy your new day in FREEDOM.

 

Happy Thanksgiving---Happy new day in Christ

What a wonderful day to start living in FREEDOM

 

"Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

The Story, pg. 431 

 

Have you ever sat yourself down and asked yourself, "What am I really afraid of? Why am I living in bondage (in legalism) over food, exercise, control...?"  I decided to pray about this question and here are the answers I came up with for myself:

     1. I might not get noticed by others about how 'disciplined' and 'fit' I am. (Funny, since being in this type of bondage is doing more damage than it is good.)

     2. I will feel ugly and won't feel 'superior' to those that won't exercise, or eat, like I do.

     3. I have nothing else to be in control of.

    4. I'll lose my, so-called, discipline.

     5. I'll become fat and flabby.

     6. I won't feel good about myself (funny, since I don't feel good about myself in the first place, otherwise I wouldn't do this damage to myself physically and mentally).

     

     I could go on with more and more, but it all leads to SELFISHNESS, and FEAR.  How terrible is that?  I feel like more of an idiot than I do anything else.

    Well, that was the purpose of my question to  myself.  When I realize my answers are so idiotic, I decide to write down what I will gain by letting go of the need to control my food, my calories, my exercise, etc.  Here is what I came up with:

     1. I can finally be the person I am truly meant to be

     2. People will be able to see me for my heart, my love, my selflessness; for the person I really want to be seen for.

     3. Those who love me unconditionally will shine through and I can remove those that want me in their lives if I live by their conditions.

    4. I will actually be: healthy, energetic, sexy, FREE!

     5. I'll learn to get to know me, and find joy in the real me.

     6. I won't put conditions on others.

     7. I will be able to love others in a new way.

     8. I'll finally be able to give up what others think about me...YAY YAY YAY!!

 

 WOW! My answers tell me one thing: I MIGHT ACTUALLY START LIVING!!! LIVING THE WAY GOD INTENDS ME TO LIVE...FREE

 

Today ask yourself the same question I asked myself.  Then, write down what could happen if you would just let go-let God.  After you are finished, close your journal (computer,  binder, notebook, phone...), and join me in being thankful for what is important in life, and feeling freer than you have felt in...forever!! It is time for us to do this.

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE.  TAKE YOUR PERSONAL BEAUTY AND LET IT SHINE THROUGH YOU TODAY.  MAKE SOMEONE SMILE, AND KNOW THIS: YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (ON THE INSIDE)!! LET THAT INSIDE LIGHT SHOW OTHERS WHAT GOD IS DOING THROUGH YOU.

 

LOVE TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY'S THIS THANKSGIVING DAY.

It's time to stop talking about fear and starting talking about FREEDOM

I am perfect in CHRIST JESUS!

"...But in fact God has the parts in [my body], every [single] one of them, just as HE wants them to be..." 

 The Story, pg. 426

"...But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me is not without effect..."

The Story, pg. 427

As my 17 year old son gets closer and closer to his 18th birthday, and finding a girlfriend that he really adores, I find myself moving into a new chapter; change, which is one of my big signals to feel fight or flight; fear; the need to be in 'control' of something.  Well, the 'something' always ends up to be myself in these times.  As I get older and more deeply connected to Christ, I am now able to catch myself quicker (praise JESUS).  

These past few months have been an emotional roller coaster which has led me to controlling everything I am eating, exercising vigorously, and becoming fearful of certain foods.  These feelings are all too familiar for me, as it has been my pattern with my past downward spirals into anorexia and body image disorders; the fears of losing control. 

Those fears are quickly disappearing, and are easier for me to manage, thanks to my deeper relationship with God and my intense study of the Word. God has not made me to do this to myself. He has made me perfect in Him.  It really is a terrible feeling to know that we take His perfection and hurt ourselves.  As I realize how much it hurts Him and how much he loves me I realize how important it is that I stop living for me, and START living for Him.  

So, today is a brand new day, a new start.  It is time to live in freedom; God's freedom.  If we can take 1 step forward, God will help us to take 2 more.  Like +Joyce Meyer says, "If we can do what we can, He promises to do what we cannot." No more looking back. No wondering what will happen if we have to buy a bigger size; what others will think; the attention we may not get anymore; the loss of control of trying to make our own destinies.  We are to live for God's destiny for our lives.  Lets do it!!  Let's stop dragging ourselves down into a scary, dark pit.  It is time to LIVE!!! Really really LIVE!

Join me and let's live in FREEDOM together.

  

I choose to embrace my many weaknesses for all the world to see...

I choose to embrace my many weaknesses for all the world to see; the more weaknesses the world sees in me, the more openings it gives God to shine through and help save the lost.

Today, embrace your weaknesses and know that God is using you to help others who are so deeply hurting and lost on the inside.

Never forget that however broken we may be God can change us at any time, in any place. The Word says, "...we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye..." (1Cor15:51-52) ~ and the Word never fails!!!

God shines the brightest through those that need the most healing.

"...he/she was born blind [with body image disorders, low self-confidence, fear, control issues: WEAKNESSES] so that God's work might be revealed in him/her."

JOhn 9:3

Thank you for loving me so much that through my many weaknesses, you will shine the brightest.  

I love you God - Your WILL, will be done through me! 

 I give all of me to you Lord. 

I am a temple for God

(1 Corinthians 6:19 NRSV) Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?

God has put so much into me, how can I do anything to hurt HIS creation.  My body is not to glorify myself, but for God to be glorified through me.

I will not be dominated by food, calories, control, emotions, or peope!!

1 Corinthians 6:12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are beneficial. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything"

My Body is God's temple - I will not live in fear of food and calories, exercise, or the need to be in control

1 Corinthians 6:12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are beneficial. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything"Our bodies are meant to be under our control.

1 Corinthians 6:13 "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food," and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."The body is meant for the Lord and the Lord for the body. The purpose of our bodies is found in God - not in sexual pleasure or the indulgence of appetites as the Corinthian slogan "food is for the stomach and the stomach for food.." implied. God is greater than our earthly appetites which will pass away. Our bodies have an eternal value which is found in the Lord. Thus we need to take a radical "counter-cultural" view and see our bodies are temples - not amusement parks. The Lord is " for the body". He is "for" your body, not against it! Here we have to make a distinction between "the flesh" (Greek "sarx") which God opposes and the "body" (Greek "soma") which He love sand will raise from the dead. "The flesh" (sarx) is the spiritual principle of self-centeredness and disobedience to God that has been biologically worked into our present bodies through habit, training and memory. "The body" (soma) is God's vehicle for self-expression in a material world. It is with our bodies, given to God, that we speak words of truth and love , touch, comfort, heal others, express practical care and love and worship Him. God love sour bodies as they glorify and serve Him. We will see that He has an eternal plan for them too!

This article may be freely reproduced for non-profit ministry purposes but may not be sold in any way. For permission to use articles in your ministry, e-mail the editor, John Edmiston at?johned@aibi.ph